Tom Green writes…

In November last year at the start of my final year at the Royal Academy of Music I made the possibly slightly foolish decision to try and run a regularly-gigging 7-piece band to play my compositions and arrangements. I love the possibilities of writing for four front line – the range of textures and colours you can get out of a seven-piece band is amazing. It’s been a challenge both logistically and financially to organise the group, but we’ve had a really good response to our music and have played at some great venues including the 606 club, the Forge and Wigmore Hall.

This year I was fortunate enough to win the Dankworth Composition prize, and it’s as a continuation of my association with the Dankworth name that we have the opportunity to play our next gig at the “Music in the Garden” series in Cleo Laine’s Old Rectory Gardens, adjacent to the Stables theatre, on June 15th. Alongside my compositions and arrangements we’ll also be playing some of John Dankworth’s pieces from his “Johnny Dankworth Seven” band which he led in the 50s, one of the first British groups to start playing bebop.

Alongside these pieces we’ll be playing my own compositions which draw from many influences – I am especially interested in studying large ensemble writers and seeing if I can use some of their techniques in a smaller group, trying to go beyond standard forms and structures and to naturally integrate improvisation and free elements with written material. I have also drawn influences from wider afield as well, including Flamenco music, Choro, and New Orleans brass bands, especially traditional funeral music and Dixieland.

It should be a really great and fairly rare opportunity to hear some of John Dankworth’s classic charts played by some of the best upcoming young musicians in London (Matthew Herd, Sam Miles, James Davison, Scott Chapman, Tom McCredie, Sam Watts) alongside some of my original material – hope to see you there!

Lineup:

Tom Green – Trombone/Compositions
James Davison – Trumpet/Flugelhorn
Matthew Herd – Alto/Soprano Saxophones
Sam Miles – Tenor Saxophone
Sam Watts – Piano
Tom McCredie – Bass
Scott Chapman – Drums

Sat 15th June, 2.30pm
The Stables, Wavendon, Milton Keynes MK17 8LU
01908 280800

Tickets HERE

Other upcoming dates:

Sun 30th June, The Salisbury, Harringay, London, 8pm
Wed 17th July, Swing Unlimited Jazz Club, The Pig & Whistle, Bournemouth, 7.30pm
Sat 20th July, Marlborough Jazz Festival, New Road Bandstand, 3.15pm